ostracize

An example of ostracize is when you don't invite one person in the class to a party that everyone else is going to.

ostracize

transitive verb

-·cized·, -·ciz·ing

to banish, bar, exclude, etc. by ostracism

Origin of ostracize

Classical Greek ostrakizein, to exile by votes written on tiles or potsherds from ostrakon, a shell, potsherd, akin to osteon, bone: see ossify

ostracize

transitive verb

os·tra·cized, os·tra·ciz·ing, os·tra·ciz·es

To exclude from a group or society: “Lepers wrapped in bandages—ostracized from their villages and unable to obtain work—rushed up to passing cars, waving crude handmade flags to warn of potholes, in the hope that motorists would fling loose change at them before they got too close” ( John Ghazvinian ) “Lionesses with worn and missing teeth are not ostracized from their pride, but live out their old age … supported by the hunting of younger females” ( Cindy Engel )

To banish by ostracism, as in ancient Greece.

Origin of ostracize

Greek ostrakizeinfromostrakonshell, potsherd (from the potsherds used as ballots in voting for ostracism) ; see ost- in Indo-European roots.